San Diego’s Agriculture industry is both
robust and challenged. This $5 billion industry includes extensive flower
production\, dairy farms\, citrus and avocado acreage.\n

San Diego’s
Mediterranean-like climate is home to more than 6\,000 farmers who make t
heir living on 6\,565 small family farms\, 65% of which are less than nine
acres. The high cost of water (more than $600/acre foot) and land make Sa
n Diego farming here expensive and encourage growers to raise products wit
h a high dollar value per acre.

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In the coming years\, climate chan
ge and water scarcity challenge this industry. More and more citizens are
educated about genetically modified organisms (GM0) and organic growing pr
ocesses. Farmers markets are popular but what else can be done to increase
demand\, reduce resource use\, and allow us to remain sustainable?

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How prepar
ed is San Diego agriculture industry to face these challenges and increase
d demand?\n